Second 'supermoon' of the year happens today

Supermoon lights up night sky in Santa Monica
The supermoon rises on June 23, 2013 over Santa Monica, California.
Christopher Polk/Getty Images

There's a "supermoon" rising this weekend. That's the term for a full moon at its closest point to Earth, which means the moon looks bigger and brighter than usual even though it's still hundreds of thousands of miles from us.

This is the second of three supermoons that will take place this year. It's also the one that will bring the moon's orbit closest to Earth, something that's called its perigee.

The moon will be full by mid-afternoon on Sunday, and it's set to rise at about 8 p.m.

July's supermoon, as seen in Morrocco
A view taken from the Moroccan capital Rabat on July 13, 2014 shows a full moon, with volcanic domes and impact craters.
Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty Images

Dave Falkner, president of the Minnesota Astronomical Society, said those interested in seeing the supermoon should keep their eyes on the heavens early on Sunday night.

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Blogs and social media are all aflutter about the supermoon, even though many people may not notice much difference from a normal full moon. Falkner said the moon, which is the celestial object closest to Earth, has always fascinated people.

"There's a lot out there to look at, a lot of interesting objects — there are still mysteries out there, it truly is the last frontier," Falkner said. "Anything we can do to get people interested in astronomy is worthwhile."

The July perigee moon in Los Angeles
The so-called supermoon, or perigee moon, rises behind the historic Mount Wilson Observatory on July 12, 2014 in the Angeles National Forest northeast of Los Angeles, California.
David McNew/Getty Images

If you want to know more about supermoons, EarthSky has a primer.

Want exact times for moon rise in your location? The U.S. Navy has a form.

The Washington Post has tips on the best ways to see the supermoon.